Through five seasons of "The Wire" and the first two of "Tremé," George Pelecanos has developed a reputation as David Simon's hatchet man. In the next-to-last episode of each season, Pelecanos comes in to do something terrible to a character we've grown to care about. In season 1 of "Tremé," Creighton jumped off the ferry; in season 2, Harley got shot walking Annie home from a gig.

By the usual standards, everyone gets off relatively easily in "Poor Man's Paradise."

After a few weeks of struggling with his own music, and after absorbing last week’s rejoinder from Desiree (“I don’t think you’re gonna be happy getting good at something you don’t love.”), Antoine sits in with Lionel Ferbose, taking one of his students along for the show. Afterwards, they sit and talk, and Antoine asks if there’s one thing they should know about the world, and Ferbos replies, “There’s a lot to be said for doing one thing right.” Later, Antoine goes to see his young student play at church. She plays the intro to “I’ll Fly Away,” a song the show has used repeatedly and to great effect. Tonight’s usage was no different. The smile on his face – the pride – was stunning. I couldn’t help thinking that maybe teaching was that one right thing.

Janette, Janette, Janette. As she says more colorfully, she's royally and completely screwed. Tim keeps inviting and comping tables full of cronies, and when an article hits the press, they become a one-dish-wonder. Everyone is pulled to making that god-forsaken ravioli, the poissonnier Paul, Jacques, everybody. And when Paul tries to keep the humor in the situation, Janette launches into him with a Brulardian string of invective. At least she didn't throw a dish at him. Jacques is very disappointed, and Janette feels guilty. But she's in charge-she can't backtrack. How sad to watch the disintegration of her relationship with Jacques from an angle. No histrionics, just glances and his absence from her sterile, lonely apartment.

The mystery out of this week is how the last episode of Season 3 is written, given the vagueries of renewal. It seems clear why Simon went to the mat for additional episodes, as there is no way to wrap up so many open story lines in one more episode.

Finally, we’ve talked before about how well Treme ends episodes. That doesn’t change here with LaDonna, broken by the destruction of her bar, visiting Albert as he undergoes chemo. Two of the strongest personalities on the show have taken some hard knocks and Khandi Alexander’s delivery of the final line—“I just needed some quiet company”—is heartbreaking. Not everyone’s down and out going into the season finale, but many are struggling more than usual on a series that’s defined itself by struggle from the start.